Page 1 of Bikers & Bars

Chapter

One

Eliza

The crowd at Neon Nights was bigger than ever tonight. Bane and I worked the bar side by side, knocking out orders and dancing along to the music. These were my favorite nights here.

“You’re killing me tonight.” Loki’s smoky voice sent a shiver down my spine, his warm breath fanning over my ear as he pressed me into the bar from behind. The bulge in his pants told me exactly what he thought of it.

“We’re an hour until closing, boss,” I husked back, my voice far sexier than I felt right now covered in sweat and booze.

“Hey, keep it together back there,” Romeo called out. “I need a bourbon on the rocks!” My shoulders shook in laughter as Loki growled in my ear. It wasn’t often he got to the growly side of his alpha nature, but the natural rivalry between him and his younger cousin did it every time.

“Aw, he’s just riling you up,” I said as I shoved back for him to move. He did so, reluctantly, with one last wolfish look. His blue eyes flashed in promise and I ran my eyes over him. My alphawas delicious, from his buzzed dirty-blond hair and muscles, to the small bun he’d pulled his longer hair on top, into. The black leather and scowl on his face made him even more sexy.

“You’ve got a death wish,” Bane told a smirking Romeo, breaking me from my unashamed ogling; though it only turned my attention to my beta. Bane had muscles, but he lacked the alpha’s bulk. His brown hair was full and thick, hanging in his sparkling green eyes. He always looked mischievous but that might be because he was always giving the others in the MC, shit.

“Nah, he’d never hurt me,” Romeo argued. He took the drink from me and passed over a few bills, waving me off when I tried to give him change. I blew him a kiss, making sure Loki saw, before tucking it into the jar. The way his jaw tightened and jealousy sparked in his gaze made me wet as hell.

“Now who is playing with fire,” Romeo asked with one cocked eyebrow. He took a pointed sip of his drink as he waited for me to respond, but someone calling for me down the bar cut our conversation short. Romeo had been around for a bit and though I wouldn’t admit it to my men, he was sexy as hell in his punk-rock style. He had Loki’s blue eyes thanks to their amazing genetics, but the beta was thin and lean and his dark hair was long enough to hang in his face but was meticulously styled to hang perfectly. He definitely took time on his appearance and it showed.

Teagan was there waving me over. The others had given in an hour ago but she hadn’t been ready to go back to her hotel quite yet.

“Hey, I’m going to see some apartments in the morning, so I’m heading out. You going home with your pack or you want a night in the hotel?” she offered when I got down to her.

“They aren’t my pack,” I reminded her half-heartedly. It felt like I was constantly pointing that out but no one was listening. Were we fucking? Yes. But we’d never even talked about taking itfurther and I had no plans of making it permanent. It would only end in disaster.

I’d learned that lesson once.

The old thought that still plagued me was shoved right back into the corner of my mind where it belonged.

“She’s coming home with us,” Bane called out with exasperation from the other end of the bar. His green eyes were full of frustration and I bit back a wince.

Teagan grinned at me with a smugness in her eyes. She knew damn well I was holding myself back when it came to them and was glad they were taking the reins, at least right now.

“Go get some rest, I have to close up,” I told her with an eye roll. “Call me tomorrow and let me know if you find a place.”

“I will. I’m tired of the hotels in town. Their towels suck,” Teagan grumbled before fighting off a yawn. Between her traveling and hopping from city to city it was a wonder she had any energy at all.

“You know, denying it changes nothing,” Bane noted as he walked past. I froze at his words, not realizing he’d heard me. Maybe I was stupid to think he wouldn’t notice my subject changes when things turned serious, but I thought I was keeping my emotional distance well enough.

Clearly, I was failing.

“What’s wrong?” Loki’s growl startled me and the glass I was holding slipped from my hands. The MC President was behind the bar in seconds, lifting me and setting me down on the bar while he cleaned up the mess.

When I said nothing, he stopped and gave me a look that had me instantly answering.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “It’s just been a long night.”

“Well, we’ll make sure you sleep good tonight, omega,” he said easily as he tossed the glass in the trash. “Go take five and grab something before the cook closes up the kitchen.” We couldhardly call the one cook and tiny kitchen much, but he did know how to make some amazing wings.

The only reason I listened to his order was because I was starving and because I wanted to avoid any awkwardness. Knowing Teag, she likely knew he was close. My best friends had been on my case about this pack since the guys started giving me attention.

My phone pinged before I could even say anything and I bit back a groan at her message.

Teagan: Pretending it’s not a pack doesn’t change things Eliza. You deserve a pack too and they know everything about you. Why hold back?

Eliza: I don’t know how to not hold back.

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